Navigating UNLV Parking: A Comprehensive Guide for Students
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) presents various parking options for its diverse student body. Understanding these options, rules, and regulations is crucial for a hassle-free campus experience. This guide provides a detailed overview of student parking at UNLV, covering permits, visitor parking, motorcycle/moped parking, accessible parking, payment methods, citation appeals, and more.
Parking and Transportation Services: Your Go-To Resource
Parking & Transportation Services is located in the Claude Howard Building, two buildings west of Lied Library on Harmon Avenue, as indicated on the UNLV Campus Map. This office is responsible for enforcing the parking rules established by the university. UNLV Parking and Transportation Services operates as a self-funded or auxiliary department, meaning that tuition fees and taxpayer funds are not used to fund the parking program. The department is funded by revenue generated from permits, visitor pay spaces, citations, and events. These funds are allocated towards the operation, maintenance, and future development of parking facilities.
The Parking and Transportation Services Office accepts various payment methods, including cash, checks, Rebel Cash, and valid credit/debit cards.
Student Parking Permits: Your Key to Campus Parking
All students, staff, and faculty need a permit to park their vehicles on UNLV’s campuses. UNLV uses a virtual permit system where your license plate is your permit. Accuracy is essential when entering vehicle details. When purchasing your permit, please be prepared with your license plate number and vehicle info (make, model, year, color). These parking permits can be purchased online through the UNLV Parking Portal.
General Permit Information
Parking permits are issued to ensure fair and equitable parking arrangements for the campus community. Faculty, staff, or students will be entitled to one permit and allowed to park one vehicle on campus. New permits must be purchased every year. Permit costs increase every academic year to cover lot maintenance and development.
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Student Permits
Student permits are available for purchase by all undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled at UNLV. Student permits are valid in student spaces only.
Resident Permits
UNLV Parking and Transportation Services are provided a listing from the Residence Hall Association for approved students living in the UNLV residence halls. Resident permits are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis and are specific to that lot. Resident permits are lot-specific and sell out quickly.
Motorcycle and Moped Permits
Yes, a permit is required to park a motorcycle on campus. Motorcycles must park in areas designated for them and may not occupy automobile parking spaces. Motorcycles must purchase a valid UNLV Motorcycle virtual parking permit or PayByPhone. Mopeds are required to have a parking permit and must be parked in motorcycle parking areas only. Motorcycles are not allowed on campus sidewalks or walkways.
Temporary Vehicle Addition
If you have a 30-day or longer permit, you can add a temporary or permanent vehicle change through your parking portal. Temporary vehicles can now be added via the UNLV Online Parking Portal by logging into your account and selecting your parking permit.
Displaying Your Virtual Permit
Parking & Transportation Services has a virtual parking permit system that uses license plate recognition (LPR) technology to connect license plates to most permits. License plates must be visible from the drive aisle. If you prefer to back your car into a parking space and do not have a front license plate, you must continue to display a parking sticker on your windshield or rearview mirror hang tag. In accordance with NRS 484.619, decals are to be displayed in the lower corner of the passenger side windshield (farthest away from the driver). University-approved clear plastic hang tags are also available at the Parking & Transportation Services Office for a nominal fee. All other permits that do not have an adhesive (e.g., scratch-off permits) must be displayed on the rearview mirror or on the vehicle dashboard, front passenger side (farthest away from the driver) face up so any and all numbers or dates may be easily viewed by enforcement officers. The permit is designed to be moved from vehicle to vehicle as needed. Permits remain university property and can be reclaimed by Parking & Transportation Services or the police if an individual's privilege to park or operate a vehicle on campus has been revoked or modified. Any person driving a car with a UNLV permit needs to be parked properly.
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Visitor Parking Options
Visitors to the campus do not have to register their vehicles, but they must use payspace areas or they may park in student spaces if they have a valid daily, weekly, or 30-day permit. A parking lot specifically for visitors is located at the main entrance of the campus at Maryland Parkway and Harmon Avenue. Visitor/pay space parking costs $2.00 per hour. Visitor/pay space parking is also available in various lots throughout the campus. In addition, visitors may purchase a daily, weekly, or monthly permit from Parking & Transportation Services that will allow them to park in student spaces.
Daily, weekly, and 30-day parking passes may be purchased from the Parking & Transportation Services office or online through the UNLV Parking Portal.
PayByPhone App
If you don’t have a parking permit, you can easily pay for hourly parking through the PayByPhone app or online. Once you find a parking space, log into your PayByPhone account (first-time users will need to register) and enter the location for the lot or parking space, vehicle information, the time needed, and payment method, and you’re on your way. Download the “PayByPhone Parking” app from Google Play or the iTunes app store. PayByPhone is an app that customers can use to pay for parking remotely with their credit or debit cards. Call PayByPhone services toll-free at 1-888-680-7275. Extend parking time by calling PayByPhone. A text notification will be sent ten minutes before parking length is set to expire with the option to renew.
Lot D have a maximum daily time of two hours. Lot V has a maximum daily time of four hours.
Accessible Parking
Persons requiring parking on campus covered under ADA must have a valid state-issued handicap license plate or portable handicap tag. All individuals with a state-issued handicap parking placard must also purchase a campus handicap parking permit to avoid paying for the visitor/pay space. Visitors or those that do not own a University handicap permit must use PayByPhone.
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State Handicapped Placards are issued through the Nevada DMV and require an official note from your doctor. Once you have obtained your handicapped placards and/or license plates, we can issue you a handicapped parking permit. The registered owner of the handicapped plate or tag must be in the vehicle when it is being parked.
Special Needs Permit
Parking & Transportation Services offers a special needs permit for expectant mothers who require closer parking for a temporary period of time. Expectant mothers may obtain this permit by providing a note from their physician to Parking and Transportation Services.
Reserved Parking
Reserved spaces are available for purchase by faculty, staff, and students. Reserved spaces are sold to interested faculty, staff, or students on a first-come, first-served basis. There is usually a waiting list for reserved parking. If spaces are not available and you would like to place your name on the list, please call 702-895-1300. A Parking & Transportation Services representative will contact you when a space is available. Reserved permits are valid in the assigned numbered reserved space and all student spaces. Reserved parking is enforced 24 hours a day. Each reserved permit is required to use a particular reserved space and no other vehicles are permitted without specific approval by Parking and Transportation Services.
Parking Citations: Prevention and Resolution
Yes, parking in any lot on campus, except Lot S, requires a permit, or your vehicle will be cited. This includes guests, visitors, speakers, performers, applicants, students, staff, faculty, deans, vendors, etc.
Parking & Transportation Services and the university police are authorized to enforce the parking rules and regulations. Control of the movement of vehicles on campus is the responsibility of the university police department. The administrative office responsible for police response, safety, and security on the UNLV campus is the Department of Public Safety, reporting to the vice president for student affairs.
Paying Citations
Parking citations may be paid at the Parking & Transportation Services office or online through the parking portal. Citations are to be paid within 30 days of the date they were issued.
Appealing Citations
Any citation issued or any fee charged that is not delinquent may be appealed in writing on an official arbitration form available through the Parking & Transportation Services or by submitting the documentation online. The appeal will be presented for arbitration but only after a deposit equal to the citation fee or other charge has been made with Parking & Transportation Services. Attendance is required to appeal a citation. If the appeal is granted, the deposit will automatically be refunded to the depositor. If the appeal is denied, the deposit will automatically be used to pay the fee. Failure to make a timely appeal waives the right of appeal. Appeals must be made within 30 calendar days from the date of citation.
Consequences of Unpaid Citations
If not paid within 30 days, fines are doubled and students may find a hold placed on their school registration. Students' parking privileges could be in jeopardy and requests for official transcripts may be delayed as well as receipt of the student's college diploma. Upon accumulating $50 or more in unpaid fines, the operator/registered owner is expelled from parking on campus until all back citations are paid. If the vehicle has been booted, the outstanding fee(s) must be paid before the boot will be removed.
Common Citation Scenarios
All areas not specifically marked for parking are no-parking zones. Vehicles are prohibited from parking in any area designated as a no-parking or stopping area. There are no excuses for parking illegally. You may pay the citation either in the Parking and Transportation Services Office or online. You may appeal your citation if you feel that the ticket you received was unjust.
Additional Parking Resources and Services
Jump Starts and Tire Inflation
Yes. Parking & Transportation Services provides jump starts for dead batteries and tire-inflation assistance.
Escort Service
Yes, University Police Services does provide an escort service to any staff, student or visitor in need.
Emergency Phones
For your convenience and safety, emergency phones are located throughout the campus.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Yes, there are multiple charging stations located across the UNLV campus for convenient access. To charge your vehicle, you must have a valid UNLV parking permit and a ChargePoint account. After your membership is activated, you can begin your charging session. Additionally, charging electric vehicles on campus during after-hours and weekends through ChargePoint will cost $.25 per kWh, regardless of UNLV parking permits or an EV Endorsement.
Back In Decal
You are required to apply for a Back In Decal for $5 if you prefer to back your vehicle into a parking space and do not have a front license plate. This decal is not a permit but will authorize you to back into a parking space.
Free Parking
The free parking lot on campus is Lot S (corner of Harmon and University Center).
Alternate Transportation Options
Bus service is available through the Regional Transportation Committee (RTC).
Parking Lot Closures
Sometimes we temporarily have to close parking lots, driveways, and garages for maintenance, construction, or university events.
Football Game Day Parking at Allegiant Stadium
All on-site Football Parking for the 2026 season will be sold on a season and single game basis. Rebel Athletic Fund contributors will have priority purchase for new football parking sales at Allegiant Stadium. New Season parking will go on sale in May. There are many off-site parking options available during UNLV Football games. We recommend booking your parking in advance for the best game day experience. Parking passes are available in adjacent Allegiant controlled lots through SpotHero. Allegiant Stadium is easily accessible from various Las Vegas Strip hotel properties, with Mandalay Bay being the closest location to Allegiant Stadium. Plan your trip in advance to ensure getting to and from Allegiant Stadium is part of the game-day fun. Parking passes will be sold based on availability. Allegiant Stadium is a cashless stadium. Rideshare and public transportation provide excellent options to get to and from Allegiant Stadium. Tailgating is permitted in designated lots for a maximum of four (4) hours. Guests looking to tailgate on Allegiant Stadium-operated property are required to possess a valid parking pass. Tailgating may take place up to the marked safety line, approximately 3 ft. Beginning the Sunday before each game at 10:00am, a limited number of single-game parking passes will be available. Student parking passes may be purchased for $20 per pass, when purchased in advance. Students will have the opportunity to purchase a parking pass during the ticket reservation process on UNLVtickets.com. Tailgating is permitted behind each parking space, and spaces will be filled on a first come, first served basis on game day. Parking lots will open four (4) hours before kickoff. Available spaces are extremely limited, and students are encouraged to act quickly to secure a space. Accessible parking will be available for guests with a verified UNLV parking pass at Allegiant Stadium. Parking pass holders in need of accessible parking will be directed by traffic and parking staff. A state-issued ADA parking placard, sticker, or license plate does not grant access to parking lots without a verified parking pass for that lot. UNLV and RTC have partnered to offer a shuttle from campus to Allegiant Stadium on game days for $4 round trip (general public and UNLV students). The shuttle will depart from the UNLV Transit Center, near Greenspun Hall, beginning two (2) hours before kickoff until one (1) hour before kickoff. The shuttle will drop passengers off at Allegiant Stadium off Dean Martin Drive near Gate 11. Return service will begin immediate after the end of the game and will end 40 minutes after the game. Bus fares may be purchased in advance using the rideRTC app, or by paying with cash on the shuttle.
Tips for a Smooth Parking Experience
- All students, staff, and faculty need a permit to park their vehicles on UNLV’s campuses. These parking permits can be purchased online through the UNLV Parking Portal. Be sure your vehicle information is accurate.
- Refer to Campus Maps featuring interactive Google maps of buildings and parking lots to make getting on and around campus a breeze. Be aware of closures to plan accordingly.
- If you don’t have a parking permit, you can easily pay for hourly parking through the PayByPhone app or online. Once you find a parking space, log into your PayByPhone account (first-time users will need to register) and enter the location for the lot or parking space, vehicle information, the time needed, and payment method, and you’re on your way.
- The Tropicana Parking Garage, accessible from Tropicana Avenue on the south end of campus, expanded to include additional parking spaces across four levels and new technology features such as Wi-Fi access, night lighting for nighttime illumination, and an electronic parking lot counting system.
- Lot M and the Thomas & Mack Center Gray Lot typically have plenty of open parking spaces. Staff and faculty parking permits are valid in student spaces.
- Save time on finding parking by catching the bus or carpooling.
Safety Tips
As you approach your vehicle, observe it. Look around the vehicle. Be aware of your surroundings. Keep car keys and house keys on separate rings. Never have an identification tag such as a miniature license or nameplate on your key ring. Do not keep your vehicle registration inside your car. Record the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), registration, and license plate number, and keep them in a safe place. Secure valuables and parcels in your trunk. Do not stop if you see a disabled vehicle or suspicious person. Drive to a nearby telephone and inform the police of the vehicle's location.
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